Authorities "Securing an additional 44 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for full national vaccination" (Update)

At the Saint-Antoine Nursing Home in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, on the 14th (local time), grandmother Giselle Lebeque, a resident here, is receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for the first time in her country.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The government announced on the 15th that it is negotiating with overseas pharmaceutical companies to secure additional quantities of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines, which will be administered to 44 million of our citizens. Although the existing supply is practically sufficient for vaccinating the entire population, given the many variables such as delayed supply timing or development failures, the government is actively engaging in negotiations while also refining the domestic vaccination plan.

Kwon Jun-wook, the 2nd Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing on the same day, "We are proceeding smoothly with the contract to pre-purchase vaccines for 44 million people, and the supply is virtually secured," adding, "We are also striving to secure additional quantities so that there is absolutely no shortage for vaccinating all our citizens."

Although final clinical trial data for each vaccine have not yet been released, considering that some vaccines are not suitable for children and infants and the expected vaccination rate, the 44 million doses are effectively sufficient for vaccinating the entire population. However, some vaccines such as AstraZeneca and Janssen are still under development, making it difficult for overseas regulatory authorities to predict the timing of final product approval. The possibility of final development failure cannot be completely ruled out.

Due to the nature of the production process, mass production is not easy, and as major advanced countries like the United States are also securing supplies, there is a forecast that supply may be difficult as the government anticipated. However, for now, the government plans to focus on negotiating with each pharmaceutical company and preparing conditions to begin vaccination immediately after supply.

Deputy Director Kwon said, "We are currently selecting priority vaccination groups, inspecting cold chain facilities, and establishing on-site vaccination plans to ensure that vaccination can begin promptly after introduction in the first quarter of next year," adding, "The quarantine authorities and experts are preparing together with the goal of safely administering effective vaccines."

Regarding the delay in approval of AstraZeneca’s vaccine, which is expected to be the first to be supplied domestically, in the United States, he said, "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a U.S. agency, and our country’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will proceed according to domestic procedures regardless of FDA approval."